"Dwight Eisenhower once said of General George C. Marshall that he typified all that we call on or that we look for in what we call an American patriot. The same may be said of Bob Gates." - Senator Bob Dole (R-KS), December 5, 2006

"Two years ago, [Gates] took over the Pentagon at a difficult time. He restored accountability. He won the confidence of military commanders and the trust of our brave men and women in uniform as well as their families. He earned the respect of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence." - President Barack Obama, November 26, 2010

"One of our nation’s most accomplished public servants... He’s a man of integrity, candor and sound judgment. He knows that the challenge of protecting our country is larger than any political party." - President George W. Bush, November 8, 2006.